Method and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Smoking Articles

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article. The apparatus comprises a conveyor ( 60 ) for a tobacco rod ( 65 ). The direction of conveyance is parallel-to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod ( 65 ). The apparatus further comprises an applicator ( 72 ) for applying a liquid additive to the tobacco rod ( 65 ) on the conveyor ( 60 ). The applicator ( 72 ) is configured such that liquid additive received into the tobacco rod ( 65 ) has a distribution in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod ( 65 ) that is substantially symmetrical about the central axis. In one embodiment, the applicator ( 65 ) comprises a plurality of dispensing heads ( 75 A, 75 B) disposed around the tobacco rod ( 65 ). In another embodiment, the applicator ( 72 ) includes a plough ( 91 ) for creating a furrow within the tobacco rod ( 65 ) and a dispensing head ( 92 ) for dispensing additive into the furrow.

1 . Apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 a conveyor for a tobacco rod, wherein the direction of conveyance is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   an applicator for applying a liquid additive to the tobacco rod on the conveyor, wherein said applicator is configured such that liquid additive received into the tobacco rod has a distribution in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod that is substantially symmetrical about said central longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises a plurality of dispersion heads for applying the liquid additive to the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of dispersion heads has a configuration which is rotationally symmetric about the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said applicator comprises a pair of dispersion heads disposed on opposite sides of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said pair of dispersion heads are horizontally disposed with respect to the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of any of  claims 2  to  5 , wherein each of said heads penetrates into the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the distance of head penetration into the tobacco rod is small compared to the cross-sectional dimensions of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of any of  claims 2  to  7 , wherein each of said heads is provided with its own reservoir of liquid additive for application to the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises:
 a plough for forming a furrow in the tobacco rod downstream of the plough; and   a head for dispersing the liquid additive into the tobacco rod, said head being positioned so as to be located within the furrow of the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the furrow formed by the plough extends to approximately the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the plough is static. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the plough is rotary. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plough has a linear speed at its edge that is approximately equal to the speed of the conveyed tobacco rod. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of any of  claims 9  to  13 , wherein said head is positioned adjacent the base of the furrow to disperse the liquid additive. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of any of  claims 9  to  14 , wherein said plough and said head are both positioned to enter the tobacco rod from above. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of any of  claims 9  to  15 , wherein the dispensed additive is limited to a central region of the tobacco rod, and wherein the radius of said central region is small compared to the radius of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 a conveyor for a tobacco rod, wherein the direction of conveyance is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   an applicator for applying a liquid additive to the tobacco rod on the conveyor, wherein said applicator has a plurality of heads for simultaneously dispersing the liquid additive into the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       18 . Apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 a conveyor for a tobacco rod, wherein the direction of conveyance is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   an applicator for applying a liquid additive to the tobacco rod on the conveyor, wherein said applicator comprises a plough for forming a furrow in the tobacco rod downstream of the plough, and a head for dispersing the liquid additive into the tobacco rod, said head being positioned so as to be located within the furrow of the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of any of  claims 2  to  18 , wherein each head of the applicator is configured to retract when the conveyor stops. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein said conveyor comprises a suction belt. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein said liquid additive comprises menthol. 
   
   
       22 . A method for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 conveying a tobacco rod in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   applying a liquid additive to the conveyed tobacco rod such that the liquid additive received into the tobacco rod has a distribution in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod that is substantially symmetrical about said central axis.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid additive is applied to the tobacco rod by a plurality of dispersion heads. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of dispersion heads has a configuration which is rotationally symmetric about the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said plurality of dispersion heads comprises a pair of dispersion heads disposed on opposite sides of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said pair of dispersion heads are horizontally disposed with respect to the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       27 . The method of any of  claims 23  to  26 , wherein each of said heads penetrates into the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the distance of head penetration into the tobacco rod is small compared to the cross-sectional dimensions of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       29 . The method of any of  claims 23  to  28 , wherein each of said heads is provided with its own reservoir of liquid additive for application to the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said method further comprises:
 forming a furrow in the tobacco rod with a plough, said furrow being formed downstream of the plough; and   dispersing the liquid additive into the tobacco rod with a head positioned so as to be located within the furrow of the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the furrow formed by the plough extends to approximately the central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  or  31 , wherein the plough is static. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  or  31 , wherein the plough is rotary. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plough has a linear speed at its edge that is approximately equal to the speed of the conveyed tobacco rod. 
   
   
       35 . The method of any of  claims 30  to  34 , further comprising positioning the head adjacent the base of the furrow to disperse the liquid additive. 
   
   
       36 . The method of any of  claims 30  to  35 , further comprising positioning the plough and the head to enter the tobacco rod from above. 
   
   
       37 . The method of any of  claims 30  to  36 , wherein the dispensed additive is limited to a central region of the tobacco rod, and wherein the radius of said central region is small compared to the radius of the tobacco rod. 
   
   
       38 . A method for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 conveying a tobacco rod in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   applying a liquid additive with an applicator to the conveyed tobacco rod, wherein said applicator has a plurality of heads for simultaneously dispersing the liquid additive into the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       39 . A method for manufacturing a smoking article comprising:
 conveying a tobacco rod in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tobacco rod; and   applying a liquid additive with an applicator to the conveyed tobacco rod by forming a furrow in the tobacco rod with a plough, wherein said furrow is formed downstream of the plough, and dispersing the liquid additive from a head into the tobacco rod, said head being positioned so as to be located within the furrow of the tobacco rod.   
   
   
       40 . The method of any of  claims 23  to  39 , further comprising retracting each head of the applicator when the conveyor stops. 
   
   
       41 . The method of any of  claims 22  to  40 , wherein said conveying is performed by a suction belt. 
   
   
       42 . The method of any of  claims 22  to  41 , wherein said liquid additive comprises menthol. 
   
   
       43 . A smoking article produced by the method of any of  claims 22  to  42 . 
   
   
       44 . A smoking article produced by the apparatus of any of  claims 1  to  21 . 
   
   
       45 . Apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   
   
       46 . A method for manufacturing a smoking article substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.